Input-output device with universal phone port

ABSTRACT

A keyboard and a microphone for inputting information, a display screen and a speaker for viewing or hearing information, and a processor, all mounted to or within a housing in the form of a laptop computer or hand-held computer. A phone interface has a slot, channel, or other support member for holding the portable phone, with a phone port electrically connected to the processor. Alternative embodiments include a modem that is electrically connected to the processor and the phone port, and an adapter with a port that mates with the phone port and a port that mates with a selected phone. The phone wirelessly transmits data entered into the input components and transferred to the phone via the phone port, and wirelessly receives data to be transferred to the output components via the phone port for visual or audible output.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to portable electronic devices for communicatingwith remote computers and, more particularly, to an input-output devicewith a universal port for connecting to a cell phone that wirelesslycommunicates with remote computers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technological advances in the telecommunications and computer-relatedindustries have provided cell phones, web phones, personal digitalassistants (PDA's), hand held computers, laptop computers, and otherportable devices that allow for instant communication and remote accessto information. These portable devices generally have proven to be verybeneficial because they allow people to stay connected wherever theyare.

For example, laptops are great for remotely accessing information onanother computer or network (e.g., the Internet) and sending/receivingemail messages, in addition to their primary function as portableinformation processors. However, they have to be connected to a phone(or cable or other) jack, and they tend to be rather bulky, heavy, andexpensive. Therefore, laptops are not ideal for carrying around on aroutine basis (relative to cell phones) for instant communication andremote access to information.

On the other hand, cell phones are small, light weight, and convenientto carry around, relative to laptops. In an effort to realize the fullpotential of both the Internet and wireless connectivity, some cellphones are now provided with capabilities for wirelessly accessing theInternet. Web phones, as they are sometimes called, are configured withwireless application protocol (WAP) for browsing and viewing web pages(or portions or reformatted versions thereof, for sending, receiving,and viewing email messages, and so forth.

Web phones have been available since the late 1990's yet have not beenoverly commercially successful. Drawbacks to web phones include thedifficulty in reading the small screen on the phone, the difficulty inusing the small keypad on the phone to enter data and control theInternet functions of the phone, and the increased weight and size ofthe phone from the added web access features.

Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for a portable wirelessdevice that permits instant communication and remote access toinformation, that is sufficiently small and lightweight that it can beconveniently carried around by a user on a routine basis, and thatpermits the user to easily enter information such as a web site addressor an email message, to easily control the device to browse the web orsend an email message, to easily view web pages and email messages, andto easily access information stored on a home or other remote computer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention fulfills these and other needs by providing aninput/output device having a phone port for connecting to a cell orother portable phone. The device has input components (such as akeyboard) and output components (such as a screen), which are mucheasier to use than the mini-keypad and mini-screen on typical webphones. A person uses the keyboard to input information or commands.Then signals representing the information or commands are sent to theportable phone via the phone port, and the phone transmits wirelesssignals to the intended computer, phone, etc. Similarly, the phonereceives wireless signals and sends the signals to the device via thephone port. Then the text and/or images represented by the signals aredisplayed on the screen.

Generally described, the input/output device includes a housing for oneor more input components such as a keyboard and/or microphone, one ormore output components such as a display screen or a speaker, a datastorage device such as a hard drive, a processor, and a phone interface.Also, a modem can be provided for use with a portable phone without one.The data storage device has a browser, email, and wireless applicationprotocol programming stored therein. The phone interface has a supportmember for the portable phone and the aforementioned port. The phonewirelessly transmits data entered into the input components andwirelessly receives data to be displayed or audibly output by the outputcomponents.

In a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, the housing has theshape and size of a conventional laptop computer. The support member isformed by a frame mounted to the housing and having a bottom (or side)wall with the port disposed thereon. The frame can be solid, perforated,latticed, or have another construction. The port has two male connectorsthat insert into two female connectors in the phone. The number, shape,and size of the connectors can be selected as desired. Elastic memberscan be provided in the frame to snugly receive different sized portablephones, and adapters can be provided for connecting to differentconnector arrangements of different types of phones.

In a first alternative embodiment, the support member is formed by aframe that is pivotally mounted to the housing at an opening, so thatthe frame pivots into and out of the housing opening. In a secondalternative embodiment, the support member is formed by a slot in thebase housing section. Similarly, in a third alternative embodiment, thesupport member is formed by a slot in the pivotal housing section.

In a fourth alternative embodiment, the support member is formed by abase plate that is slidably attached to the housing at an opening sothat the base plate slides into and out of the housing. Additionally, aslidably retractable arm can be attached to the housing at an opening sothat the arm slides out of the opening to laterally support the phone.Similarly, in a fifth alternative embodiment, the support member isprovided by a base plate that is pivotally mounted to the housing at anopening so that the base plate pivots into and out of the housing, and apivotally retractable arm can be attached to the housing at an openingso that the arm pivots.

In a second exemplary embodiment, the housing has the shape and size ofa conventional hand-held computer. The housing has a slot or channel forreceiving the portable phone, with the support member formed by one ofthe walls defining the slot or channel. Of course, support memberssimilar to those of the first exemplary embodiment alternatively can beprovided. In a third exemplary embodiment, the housing and slot (orchannel) are similar to that of the second embodiment, plus an adaptersleeve is provided. The adapter sleeve receives and holds the phone sothat the phone can be slid into and out of the sleeve (and the slot) asdesired.

Accordingly, the input/output device of the present invention providesnumerous advantages over the prior art. For example, a user can easilyenter information (such as a web site address or an email message) bythe keyboard (instead of by a mini-keypad of a web phone), easily viewtext and/or graphics (from web pages or email messages) on the screen(instead of on a mini-screen of a web phone), and easily accessinformation (such as appointment calendar entries) stored on a home orother remote computer. In order to communicate with the desiredcomputer(s), phone, etc., the user merely inserts his or her portablephone into the phone interface so that the phone engages the port, andthe phone sends and receives wireless signals to accomplish thecommunication. When the user removes the phone from the device, thephone then returns to functioning as a conventional portable phone. Inthis way, the input/output device can be sufficiently small,lightweight, and inexpensive that it can be conveniently carried aroundon a routine basis for use when desired.

The specific techniques and structures employed by the invention toimprove over the drawbacks of the prior systems and accomplish theadvantages described above will become apparent from the followingdetailed description of the embodiments of the invention and theappended drawings and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of aninput/output device of the present invention in use with a cell phone tocommunicate with a computer and another cell phone.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the input/output device of FIG. 1,showing the main internal components of the device.

FIG. 3 is a side detail view of a phone interface of the input/outputdevice of the FIG. 1, showing a support member for the cell phone in theform of a frame.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional detail view of the support member of FIG. 3,showing an adapter connected to phone ports connected to the cell phone.

FIG. 5 is a side detail view of a first alternative embodiment of thesupport member in the form of a pivotal frame.

FIG. 6 is a side detail view of a second alternative embodiment of thesupport member in the form of a slot in the base housing section.

FIG. 7 is a side detail view of a third alternative embodiment of thesupport member in the form of a slot in the pivotal housing section.

FIG. 8 is a front detail view of a fourth alternative embodiment of thesupport member in the form of a linearly retractable base plate andlateral support arm.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fifth alternative embodiment of thesupport member in the form of a pivotally retractable base plate andlateral support arm.

FIG. 10 is a front detail view of-a second exemplary embodiment of aninput/output device of the present invention in use with a cell phone.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the input/output device of the FIG. 10,showing the support member provided by a slot in the housing.

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional detail view taken at line 12-12 of FIG. 11,showing the phone connected to the input/output device by an adapter.

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of an alternative embodiment of theinput/output device of FIG. 10, showing the support member provided by achannel in the housing.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a third exemplary embodiment of theinput/output device of the present invention, showing the support memberprovided by a slot in the housing and an adapter sleeve for the phone.

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the input/output device of FIG. 14taken at line 15-15, showing the configuration of the slot, sleeve, andphone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,referred to generally as the input/output device 10, in use with aportable phone 12. The device 10 includes a housing 14 that has a basesection 14 a and a pivot section 14 b pivotally connected together. Thehousing 14 can be made of a plastic, fiberglass, metal, or othermaterial, with a shape and size smaller than or comparable to a laptopand larger than or comparable to a hand held computer. In this fashion,the housing 14 provides a protective case for the components of thedevice 10.

The device 10 has one or more input components and one or more outputcomponents mounted to the housing 14 or enclosed in the housing andaccessible through openings therein. For example, the input componentscan be provided by a keyboard 16 and/or a microphone 18, and the outputcomponents can be provided by a display screen 20 and/or a speaker 22.Of course, a pointer device, stylus, touch screen, keypad, and/or otherinput and/or output components can be provided. It will be understoodthat these components can be provided by commercially availablecomponents well known in the art.

Additionally, the device 10 includes a phone interface 24 having asupport member 26 that supports the portable phone 12 and a port 28 forcommunicating with the phone. Utilizing these features, a user much moreeasily can use their cell (or web) phone to communicate with andremotely access information on another computer (or network of computerssuch as the Internet) 30, another portable phone 32, or other electronicdevices.

For example, the user can be engaged in a conversation on his portablephone 12, and simply insert the phone into engagement with the phoneinterface 24 to bring up a web page or to view other data on the displayscreen 20 of the device 10. When desired, then the user simply removesthe phone from the interface and resumes using the phone as aconventional portable phone. Also, the user can utilize the keyboard 16or another input component of the device 10 to enter data such as a website address, an email message, personal identification information formaking an online purchase, or a file location on a remote computer, orto enter control functions such as page scrolling or sending the emailmessage, instead of having to use the mini keypad on conventional webphones. The device 10 processes the entered data or command andcommunicates with the portable phone 12 via the port 28. The phone 12 inturn wirelessly transmits signals representing the data or command tothe intended computer(s) 30, phone 32, or other electronic device.

Similarly, the phone 12 receives wireless signals from anothercomputer(s) 30, phone 32, and so forth, and communicates the signals tothe device 10 via the port 28. The device 10 then processes the signalsand outputs the data visually on the display screen 20, audibly throughthe speaker 22, or otherwise. In this way, the outputted text and/orimages of web pages, email messages, etc. can be seen more clearly andeasily than when using the mini display screen on conventional webphones. Additionally, users can remotely access documents, check theirschedules, or retrieve other information stored on their home and/oroffice computers.

Accordingly, users can carry their cell phones as they normally do and,when needed, use the input/output device 10 to easily access informationand/or features on their home computer from elsewhere, their officecomputer from home, the Internet from anywhere, and so forth. The device10 is lightweight, compact, and inexpensive relative to a laptopcomputer, so it can be carried around routinely like a cell phone, if sodesired. Also, users can keep additional devices 10 where they arelikely to need them, for example, in their brief case or business bag,automobile, office, boat, vacation home, etc. Furthermore, users canaffordably obtain several of the devices 10 and configure them in anetwork in their home with, for example, one device upstairs, onedownstairs, one in the kitchen, etc., each able to communicate with amain computer in the house (and/or with each other when someone insertstheir cell phone into the phone interface). Additionally oralternatively, a host of the devices 10 can be provided in restaurants,cafes, bars, airports, airplanes and jets, trains, taxicabs, hotels, andso forth, for use as needed by persons carrying cell phones.

The device 10 can be used with most any type of portable phone 12. Asused herein, a portable phone is any analog, digital, third generation,and/or other portable telephone or other telecommunications device. Inorder to function with the device 10, the portable phone 12 may need tobe adapted to include modified circuitry and a mating connector, forexample, a female connector for mating with a male connector of the port25. Such adaptations can be readily made to provide a portable phonethat cooperatively functions with the device 10 as described herein.

Furthermore, the device 10 can be used to communicate with most any typeof electronic device that is connected to a phone or cable line or thatsends and/or receives wireless signals. Thus, while the device isdescribed herein for communication with computers 30 and cell phones 32,it also can be used to remotely control, retrieve information from, orotherwise communicate with PDA's, household appliances, portable orstationary televisions, portable or stationary radios, compact disc andtape players, and/or other electronic devices modified to include aphone or cable line connection and/or a wireless transmitter and/orreceiver operating within the designated frequency range for portablephones.

FIG. 2 schematically shows the configuration of the components of theinput/output device 10, including the keyboard 16, microphone 18, screen20, speaker 22, and phone port 28. The phone port 28 is connected to amodem 34 that encodes the entered data for transmission by the phone 12,for use with a portable phone without a modem. The modem can be providedby a modem card, an internal modem, or another conventional modem.Alternatively, the device 10 can be provided without the modem, for usewith a portable phone 12 that has a modem. Also, a dial tone generatorcan be provided, as needed.

A processor 36 is connected to the modem 34, a memory device 38 (forexample, RAM), a power supply 40 (for example, batteries), and a datastorage device 42 (for example, a hard drive) via input/outputinterfaces. The data storage device 42 includes an operating system 44for instructing the processor 36 to run the components of the device 10,WAP software 46 for sending and receiving web pages, programs for voicerecognition 48 and video 50 (included if the device has the microphoneand the screen, respectively), and application programs such as an emailprogram 52 and a browser 54. The processor 36 can be programmed to turnon the device 10 when the phone port 28 is connected to a port on theportable phone 12, and to turn off the device upon disconnection. Itwill be understood that these components can be provided by commerciallyavailable components well known in the art.

In this configuration, the device 10 has minimal on-board functionality.The device 10 need only include components for inputting and outputtinginformation and for communicating the information to and from theportable phone 12. Thus, the device does not need word processing,spreadsheet, or other common application programs, and can be providedwith a correspondingly smaller (and lighter) data storage device, memorydevice, batteries, and housing. Accordingly, the device 10 can beproduced for a low cost and with a small size and weight, relative tolaptops.

The device 10 can be provided with additional features and/or inalternative configurations, as desired. For example, the hard drive 42can be provided without the WAP software 46, email 50, or browser 52 ifthe device is to be used with a web phone including these components,the video program 50 can be provided by a video card, the hard drive 42can be provided by a disc drive, optic drive, CD-ROM, and/or anotherdrive, and/or the power supply can be provided by a detachable powercord for connection to 120/240v line source, by photovoltaic cells, bycombinations thereof, and so forth. Also, the device 10 can haveadditional input/output interfaces for connecting additional componentssuch as a printer, scanner, backup storage device, and so forth.Furthermore, the device can be provided with a wireless transmitter andreceiver and BLUETOOTH or another wireless communications software foruse with, for example, a wearable communications device such as theeyeglasses disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/888,280.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the support member 26 for the portable phone 12, withthe support member formed by a frame 26 a. The frame 26 a has side wallsand a bottom wall that define a receptacle for the phone, and is mountedto the pivotal housing section 14 b. The frame 26 a can be generallyrectangular with an open top and a size selected for receiving andholding any of the various different sizes of phones 12 that arecommercially available. Alternatively, the frame 26 a can have otherregular or irregular shapes with the frame walls provided by solid,perforated, lattice, wire, or flanged members, or other structures thatwill receive and hold the phone 12. It will be understood that insteadof a frame, the support member can have the form of a bracket, plate,arm, sleeve, shelve, bottom or side wall of a slot, pocket, or otherreceptacle, or another structure that supports the portable phone.

Additionally, two or another number of elastic members 56 can beattached to or otherwise arranged within the frame 26 a for adjustingthe size of the receptacle to snugly hold the phone in place.Accordingly, the elastic members 56 can be provided by leaf springs,spring-biased runners, a bellows, elastomeric arms or bushings, or otherstructures.

The port 28 has two conventional male connectors 58 that extend from thebottom wall of the frame 26 a and insert into two conventional femaleconnectors 60 of the phone 12. The connectors 58 can be sized and spacedto be universal for mating with the connectors 60 on any cell phone. Ofcourse, another number of connectors can be provided, and the femaleconnectors can be provided on the device with male connectors on thephone, as may be desired. Alternatively, the port can include a wirelesstransmitter and a wireless receiver that send and receive radio or otherfrequency signals to and from the portable phone (with the hard driveincluding BLUETOOTH or another communications software), or the port canbe provide by an infrared or other optical transmitter and receiver forcommunicating with similar components on a modified portable phone.

In order for the device 10 to accommodate different brands and types ofphones, one or more adapters 62 can be provided that mate with theconnectors 58 of the device 10. Each adapter 62 has connector(s) 64 witha number, length, spacing, and cross sectional shape and size selectedfor mating with the particular connectors of the phone to be used. Inthis manner, when the user upgrades or for another reason obtains a newcell phone with connectors that do not mate, he or she can continue touse the device by simply obtaining an adapter for that particular newphone. Also, for phones with similar connector arrangements, one adaptercan be configured for use with several different brands or types ofphones.

FIGS. 5-9 show several of the contemplated alternative embodiments ofthe support member 26 for the portable phone 12. In a first alternativeembodiment shown in FIG. 5, the support member is provided by a frame 26b that forms a receptacle for the phone and that is pivotally mounted tothe housing 14 b at an opening 25 b therein. The port connectors aredisposed on the bottom (or another) wall of the receptacle. The frame 26b pivots between an open position extending from the housing so that thephone 12 can be inserted into the receptacle and a closed positionretracted into the housing opening 25 b.

In a second alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the support memberis provided by walls defining a slot 26 c in the base housing section 14a, and the port connectors are disposed on the bottom (or another) wallof the slot. Similarly, in a third alternative embodiment shown in FIG.7, the support member is provided by walls defining a slot 26 d in thepivotal housing section 14 b, and the port connectors are disposed onthe bottom (or another) wall of the slot.

In a fourth alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the support memberis provided by a base plate 26 e that is slidably attached to thehousing 14 a at an opening 25 e therein. The port connectors aredisposed on the top surface of the base plate 26 e. The base plate 26 eslides between an open position extending from the housing so that thephone 12 can be placed on the base plate engaging the connectors and aclosed position slidably retracted into the housing opening 25 e. Aspring-loaded latch or the like can be provided for releasing and urgingthe base plate 26 e to move to the open position. Additionally, aretractable arm 27 e can be slidably attached to the housing 14 b at anopening 23 e therein. The arm 27 e slides between an open positionextending from the housing and laterally supporting the phone and aclosed position slidably retracted into the housing opening 23 e.

Similarly, in a fifth alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 9, thesupport member is provided by a base plate 26 f that is pivotallymounted to the housing 14 b at an opening 25 f therein. The portconnectors are disposed on the top surface of the base plate 26 f. Thebase plate 26 f pivots between an open position extending from thehousing so that the phone 12 can be placed onto the base plate and aclosed position pivotally retracted into the housing opening 25 f.Additionally, a retractable arm 27 f can be pivotally attached to thehousing 14 b at an opening 23 f therein. The arm 27 f pivots between anopen position extending from the housing and laterally supporting thephone and a closed position pivotally retracted into the housing opening23 f.

Referring now to FIGS. 10 and 11, there is shown a second exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, referred to generally as theinput/output device 110, for use with a portable phone 112. Theinput/output device 110 has internal electronic components similar tothose of the first exemplary embodiment described above. In thisembodiment, the housing 114 has a touch screen for entering andoutputting data, and function buttons 116 for operating the device 110.Additionally, a microphone 118, a speaker 122, and/or other input/outputcomponents can be provided, as desired.

The housing 114 has the shape and size of a conventional hand-heldcomputer. For example, the housing 14 can be similar to that of a PDAsuch as a BLACKBERRY®) PDA, PALM® PDA, VISOR® PDA, POCKET PC® PDA, oranother electronic device that can be held in the user's hand when inuse. In this manner, the input/output device 110 can be used anywhere,anytime, such as when walking down the street or exercising on astationary bicycle. The support member 126 a is formed by a walldefining a slot in the housing 114 for receiving the portable phone 112,with the phone port 128 positioned on the support member 126 a.Accordingly, the phone 112 can be slid into and out of the slot toengage the phone port 128. For thinner portable phones, the housing andslot also can be thinner.

Additionally, an adapter 162 can be provided for connecting the phoneport 128 to a modem port 160 or other port on a selected portable phone112. Thus, the adapter 162 can have two male connectors with oneconnector received by a female connector of the phone port 128 and theother connector received by a female connector of the modem port 160.Alternatively, similar to the first exemplary embodiment, the adapter160 can have female connectors and the modem and phone ports can havemale connectors, or other configurations can be provided with othertypes, numbers, sizes, shapes, and positions of connectors. Also, theadapter 160 can have a curved top surface that forms a cradle for aportable phone with a curved bottom. Additionally, two (or another)retainers 163 can be coupled to the housing inside the slot for securingthe adapter 162 therein. Such retainers 163 can be provided by clips,straps, bands, screws, latches, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 13, in an alternative embodiment, the support member126 b is formed by a wall defining a channel in the housing 114 forreceiving the portable phone 112, with the phone port 128 positioned onthe support member 126 b. Additionally, a retractable arm can beprovided that is pivotally, slidably, or otherwise mounted to thehousing 114 (similar to the arm 27 c of FIG. 9), for supporting thephone in the channel. Of course, other support members similar to thoseof the first exemplary embodiment alternatively can be provided.

Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, there is shown a third exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, referred to generally as theinput/output device 210, for use with a portable phone 212. Theinput/output device 210 has internal electronic components similar tothose of the first and second exemplary embodiments described above. Thesupport member 226 is formed by a wall defining a slot in the housing214 for receiving the portable phone 212, with the phone port 228positioned on the support member 226. Of course, other support memberssimilar to those of the first or second exemplary embodimentalternatively can be provided.

In this embodiment, an adapter sleeve 262 slides into and out of theslot, and receives and holds the phone 212 so that the phone can be slidinto and out of the sleeve. The adapter sleeve 262 can have a shape andsize for receiving the phone, and can be substantially coextensive withthe slot (meaning that the adapter sleeve extends most of the length ofthe lost, but does not extend out of the slot). The adapter sleeve 262and slot have one or more mating tongues and grooves that permit theadapter sleeve to slid into and out of the housing 214. As depicted, forexample, three tongues 270 extend from the adapter sleeve 262 into threegrooves 272 in the slot wall. Alternatively, the tongues can extend fromthe slot wall and the grooves can be formed in the adapter sleeve. Thetongues 270 can be provided by tabs, wedges, pins, bars, or the like.Also, the adapter sleeve 262 has two (or another number) of notches 274that receive two (or another number) of protrusions 276 extending fromthe slot wall for retaining the adapter sleeve 262 in the slot when thephone is pulled out of the adapter sleeve.

Additionally, the adapter sleeve 262 connects the phone port 228 to themodem port 260 (or to another port on the selected portable phone).Thus, the adapter sleeve 262 can have a first port with three maleconnectors 258 that extend from it and are received by female connectorsof the phone port 128, and a second port with three male connectors 264that extend from it and are received by female connectors of the modemport 160. The male connectors 258 and 262 are electrically connected sothat the phone 212 can be connected to the phone port 228 through theports of the adapter sleeve 262. Alternatively, similar to the first andsecond embodiments, the adapter sleeve 260 can have female connectorsand the modem and phone ports can have male connectors, or otherconfigurations can be provided with other types, numbers, sizes, shapes,and positions of connectors.

The adapter sleeve 262 can be dimensioned to loosely fit into the slotand to loosely receive the phone 212, thereby forming air-gaps fordissipating heat from the phone. For example, an air-gap 276 can beprovided between the phone 212 and the sleeve adapter 262, and anair-gap 278 can be provided between the sleeve adapter and the slotwall. Also, apertures can be formed in the wall of the adapter sleevefor increasing the heat dissipation. Accordingly, the phone 212 can beslid into and out of the adapter sleeve 262 to engage the phone port228. In this way, the adapter sleeve 262 is selected with the connectorarrangement and internal dimensions for the particular phone 212 to beused, and a new sleeve would only be needed when the user obtains adifferent portable phone.

In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that input/outputdevice of the present invention permits the user to insert his or herportable phone into the phone port and easily enter information (such asa web site address or an email message) by the keyboard or touch screen(instead of by a mini-keypad of a web phone), easily view text and/orgraphics (from web pages or email messages) on the screen (instead of ona mini-screen of a web phone), and easily access information stored on ahome or other remote computer (such as appointment calendar entries).Thus, when the phone is inserted into the input/output device, the phoneprovides connectivity to the device by functioning as a modem and/orwireless communications device providing real time communicationscapabilities with other communications devices. Then the user can slidehis portable phone out of the input/output device and the phone resumesoperation as a conventional portable phone.

In this manner, the portable phone serves the dual functions ofconventional phone when not engaged with the phone interface and a modemand/or a wireless communications device when so engaged. Therefore, onlyone cell phone account is needed, there are no dangling wires betweenthe phone and the device, and the user only has one communicationsdevice to hold when using the phone in conjunction with the inout/outputdevice. Furthermore, the input/output device is sufficiently small,lightweight, and inexpensive that it can be conveniently carried aroundon a routine basis for use when desired.

While certain embodiments are described above with particularity, theseshould not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention. Itshould be understood, therefore, that the foregoing relates only toexemplary embodiments of the present invention, and that numerouschanges may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention as defined by the following claims.

1. An input/output device for use with a portable phone, comprising: a)a processor; b) one or more input components electrically connected tothe processor and adapted to enter data; c) one or more outputcomponents electrically connected to the processor and adapted todisplay or audibly output data; d) a housing with the processor, theinput components, and the output components mounted to or generallyenclosed within the housing; and e) a phone interface having a supportmember and at least one phone port, wherein the support member is formedon the housing and adapted to support the portable phone and the phoneport is electrically connected to the processor and adapted tocommunicate with the phone when supported by the support member, whereinthe phone wirelessly transmits data entered into the input componentsand wirelessly receives data to be displayed or audibly output by theoutput components.
 2. The input/output device of claim 1, wherein theinput components comprise a keyboard and a microphone.
 3. Theinput/output device of claim 1, wherein the output components comprise adisplay screen and a speaker.
 4. The input/output device of claim 1,further comprising an adapter electrically connectible to the phone portand electrically connectible to predetermined types of phones.
 5. Theinput/output device of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed byone or more walls defining a slot or a channel in the housing, and thephone port is disposed on one of the walls of the slot.
 6. Theinput/output device of claim 5, further comprising an adapter sleevethat is slidably received in the slot or channel and that slidablyreceives the portable phone therein, the adapter sleeve having a firstport that electrically connects to the phone port on the portable phoneand a second port that electrically connects to the phone port on thehousing.
 7. The input/output device of claim 6, wherein the adaptersleeve is substantially coextensive with the slot.
 8. The input/outputdevice of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed by a framedefining a receptacle for the phone, the frame mounted to the housingand having a wall with the phone port disposed thereon.
 9. Theinput/output device of claim 8, wherein the frame is pivotally mountedto the housing and moves between an open position extending from thehousing so that the phone can be inserted into the receptacle and aclosed position retracted into the housing so that the phone can not beinserted into the receptacle.
 10. The input/output device of claim 1,wherein the support member is formed by a base plate with the portdisposed thereon and that moves between an open position extending fromthe housing so that the phone can be supported thereon and a closedposition retracted into the housing so that the phone can not besupported thereon.
 11. The input/output device of claim 10, furthercomprising an arm that moves between an open position extending from thehousing so that the phone can be supported laterally thereby and aclosed position retracted into the housing so that the phone can not besupported laterally thereby.
 12. The input/output device of claim 1,wherein the housing is sized and shaped for being held in a user's handwhile in use.
 13. An input/output device for use with a portable phone,comprising: a) a processor; b) one or more input components electricallyconnected to the processor and adapted to enter data, wherein the inputcomponents include one or more function buttons; c) one or more outputcomponents electrically connected to the processor and adapted to outputdata, wherein the output components include a display screen; d) a datastorage device electrically connected to the processor and havingbrowser, email, and wireless application protocol programming storedtherein; e) a housing with the processor, the input components, theoutput components, the data storage device, and the support membermounted to or generally enclosed within the housing, wherein the housingis sized and shaped for being held in a user's hand while in use; and f)a phone interface having a support member and at least one phone port,wherein the support member is formed by one or more walls defining aslot or a channel in the housing and is adapted to support the portablephone, and the phone port is disposed on one of the walls of the slotand is electrically connected to the processor and adapted tocommunicate with the phone when supported by the support member, whereinthe phone wirelessly transmits data entered into the input componentsand wirelessly receives data to be displayed or audibly output by theoutput components.
 14. The input/output device of claim 13, wherein thephone port has at least one male connector that is receivable by atleast one female connector on the phone.
 15. The input/output device ofclaim 13, further comprising an adapter electrically connectible to thephone port and electrically connectible to predetermined types ofphones.
 16. The input/output device of claim 13, further comprising anadapter sleeve that is slidably received in the slot or channel and thatslidably receives the portable phone therein, the adapter sleeve havinga first port that electrically connects to the phone port on theportable phone and a second port that electrically connects to the phoneport on the housing.
 17. The input/output device of claim 16, whereinthe adapter sleeve is substantially coextensive with the slot.
 18. Theinput/output device of claim 16, further comprising at least one tongueextending from the housing or the adapter sleeve, and at least onegroove notch in the housing or the adapter sleeve, the tongue slidablyreceived in the groove, wherein the adapter sleeve is slidably receivedin the housing.
 19. The input/output device of claim 16, furthercomprising at least one notch in the housing or the adapter sleeve, andat least one protrusion extending from the housing or the adaptersleeve, the protrusion removably received in the notch, wherein theadapter sleeve is removably retained in the housing.
 20. Theinput/output device of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of theadapter sleeve and at least a portion of the wall of the slot are spacedapart to form an air-gap.
 21. The input/output device of claim 13,wherein the display screen comprises a touchscreen adapted to input andoutput data.
 22. The input/output device of claim 13, further comprisingat least one retainer coupled to the housing and adapted to retain thephone in engagement with the phone port.
 23. The input/output device ofclaim 13, further comprising at least one elastic member coupled to thehousing and deformable to engage different sized portable phones whenconnected to the phone port.
 24. The input/output device of claim 13,further comprising a modem electrically connected to the processor. 25.The input/output device of claim 13, further comprising a power sourceand a memory device each electrically connected to the processor. 26.The input/output device of claim 13, wherein the data storage devicedoes not have word processing or spreadsheet application programs storedtherein.
 27. The input/output device of claim 13, wherein the phone portincludes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver that send andreceive signals to and from the portable phone.